1899 – Duke Ellington was born (d. 1974). American jazz pianist, bandleader. He was honored, at the date of his 70th birthday, with the presentation of the Medal of Freedom, the U.S. government’s highest civilian honor.

1905 – Ogden Minton Pleissner was born (d. 1963). US painter specialized in Landscapes. Pleissner is best known for his painting of the outdoors and gentlemanly sports.

1906 – André Plumot dies (b. 1829). Belgian artist.

1907 – Fred Zinnemann was born (d. 1997). Austrian-born American film director. Academy Award-winning director: High Noon [1952], From Here to Eternity [1953], A Man for All Seasons [1966]; died Mar 14, 1997 .

1913 – Swedish Canadian Gideon Sundback received a U.S. patent this day in 1913 for the modern “hookless” zipper, which improved on the clasp locker exhibited by Whitcomb Judson at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

1899 – Duke Ellington was born (d. 1974). American jazz pianist, bandleader. He was honored, at the date of his 70th birthday, with the presentation of the Medal of Freedom, the U.S. government’s highest civilian honor.

1905 – Ogden Minton Pleissner was born (d. 1963). US painter specialized in Landscapes. Pleissner is best known for his painting of the outdoors and gentlemanly sports.

1906 – André Plumot dies (b. 1829). Belgian artist.

1907 – Fred Zinnemann was born (d. 1997). Austrian-born American film director. Academy Award-winning director: High Noon [1952], From Here to Eternity [1953], A Man for All Seasons [1966]; died Mar 14, 1997 .

1913 – Swedish Canadian Gideon Sundback received a U.S. patent this day in 1913 for the modern “hookless” zipper, which improved on the clasp locker exhibited by Whitcomb Judson at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.